Folding mast structure



Oct. 30, 1951 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ETAL FOLDING MAST STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10 1950 INVENTORS 22 7 45 I BY 64% 0. 5M ,nma dmv MA.

M w -b 06L 1951 H. J. WOOLSLAYER HAL 5 5 FOLDING MAST STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 30, 1951 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ETAL 2,573,528

FOLDING MAST STRUCTURE 3 Sheet-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 10, 1950 INh/VENTORK BY 5o Patented Oct. 30, 1951 Moore; Corporation; Pitt'sbiirgh,

tion 'of Pennsylvania.

Pa, a corpora:

Thi invention relates to portable masts, and more particularly to' oil well tha'tcah be folded into horizontal sections for transportation from one location to another without being disassembled. I I

It among the objects (if this invention, to provide a mast structure in which the mast can be ermanently Iiibuiited oh 2!, Vehi1e,'ii1 Which the hoist and power unit also are mounted on the whine, in which the ast earl be folded'in' reclining position on the vehicle for transportation, which the mast'can be easily raised and lowered by the equipment on the 'vnielegand in which a tall mast can be folded into short enough horizontal sections tube within highway load limit regulations.

"In accordance with this' 'inventionan' upright mast is pivota'n'y connet'e'd at its lower endt'o a" sup ort, such as to one end of a truck trailer; The central part or the mast is hinged at its front side to form upper and'lowe sections which are adapted to fold upon themselves iii substanman horizontal position With" the IOWBT 'Stl'oh extending along the support. A toggle, form'jd from a long brace and a short brace (1 together, has the long'b'i'ac'e' pivoted to the support behind the, lower end of the mast. The short brace is pivoted to the lower seetrono'f the mast near its upper end; Manually controlled pulling means are connected with the upper part of the long brace and with theisupport between that brace and theinast for exertin downward tension on the upper part of the long brace; Behind the short brace of the toggle there third brace which is pivotally connected with the toggle and with the upper section of the mast" below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together When theten'sion means are operated to release the downward tension on the upper part of the long brace so that the hinged ends of the mast sections can be swung rearward, the third brace controls tilting of the upper section forward and downward toward horizontal position, while the tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto the support. In this Way the mast is swung down and folded in reclining position on the support. It is raised by merely pulling on the upper part of the long brace by the tension means.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the. accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the folded mast nl'ou'ritlad on a truektrailer; Fig! 2 is a vertical section through the folded mast taken on the 13 Claims. (0!. 1-89-15) 7 line 11 11 par F r tlfin s j Figs. 4; andjsare rear an from views avers confusion; and Fig. .6 a fra mentary front view of, the low'r'p oitio'ii of the u right? mean; with" the" ri ht hand" hair or the 'figi'ir' broken away the 10h": brace'and" supbft: e .i r

it tag. '1 a the drawings; eterfReferi'in v th alsunlgniehtraliportibn is sho ii ramewp e tw e ehem s 0f amen w re i r om r as; 1 5 hih extends remr l q nt qr he ha nels bac war m, ow w r Pore 9 4 th llo ei ear co r f t e, e W-Qr whe et ig'b' is p ta h em l sQan-swi u e i iv i be wee t m ro smemb 9 a d S ta le 't bl 'f between the' upper ends of each pair of channels Ill. Ijhe upp end of eaeh gin pole supports:

a sheave 1. were t ltramew ek-r P vot qonnse eil fi l m w r j rii rfii ,be 91, 31" its e t e er t et ilbf mast ass h w Fis lr en efi-fl elma t shownin. Elsi l as. be n .dir dsu s ant al y; midway betweenits :ends intojupper and lower sections, 18 and 1.29;thatgliexonegabove .the other; substantially horizontal.,jposition. The lower; section" 1 9 is supported by framework 1, from which it ei'zterrds backward across trie drawworks and engine, a d ty a pedestal 2| supported the reareh e trailer; Th rear ends of" I e i"; Fig. '3' a diagrammatic side v ew of th lfia's'ti m uprig t positionaiid" showing it in bro en lii'is in intermediate 'p'o's'i-" t5" the rear ndlof a truck 21 I Neat ent withea 3 other The legs 22 that are hinged together form the front legs of the upright mast.

The rear posts 12 of framework 1 support a pair of brackets 26, in which a horizontal shaft 21 is rotatably mounted. Rigidly mounted on this shaft near the brackets are the front ends of the opposite sides of a long structural steel brace 28 that extends backward beneath the reclining mast and beyond mast hinges 23. The'sides of this brace may be connected by suitable cross bracing, which has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity. The rear cross member of this brace (Fig. 6) supports a pair of brackets 29, to which the lower ends of a pair of links 3| are pivotally connected. The links are inclined forward and upward on opposite sides of the reclining mast, and have their upper ends pivotally mounted on the opposite ends of a shaft 32 that is rigidly mounted in the lower section of the mast near its upper legs and in front of the leg hinges. The links and shaft form ash ort brace, and the two braces together form a toggle for swinging the lower section of the mast upward when the toggle is swung upward.

The rear end of long brace 28 also carries a pair of brackets 33 that are pivoted to the lower end of a third structural steel brace'34. 'The upper end of this brace is pivoted to the rear ends of the upper legs 36 of the upper section of the mast behind the toggle joint. It will oe observed that these upper legs extend backward beyond the mast hinges to create leverage, and that the lower legs 31' of the lower section of the mast,"which align with the upper legs when the mast'is upright to form therear legs of the mast, are shorter than the lower section of the hinged legs by an equal amount. In other words, when the mast is upright as shown in Fig. 3, its two sections overlap each other along an inclined plane extendingfrom 'thefront leg hinges'down to the point where the upper and lower sections of the rear legs come together.

7 The opposite sides of the long toggle brace 28 shown in Fig. 1, are provided, a short distance infront of its rear end, with upwardly projecting plates 40 that are pivotally connected to the rear ends of a pair of long links 4| which extend forward-along the opposite sides of the lower section of the mast. The front end'of each of these links carries a sheave 42. A cable 43 is anchored to the upper part of each gin pole l3 and extends back and up around the sheave 42 on the same side of the mast, and then forward and down around the gin pole sheave IE to a winch 44 mounted on one end of a shaft 46 journaled in the bottom of the framework. The shaft can be driven in any suitable manner through a transmission 41 at the center of the shaft.

The two winches are rotated in unison by shaft 46 in order to reel in the two cables 43 simultaneously. When this is done, the cables first pull the two gin poles l3 upward and backward as far as they will go, and then'pull sheaves 42 forward toward the gin pole sheaves. When the gin pole sheaves are in their upper position they are located above the reclining mast, as shown in broken linesin Fig. 1, so the cables pull upward and forward on sheaves 42. This tension lifts the rear'end of long brace 28 and thereby starts .to straighten the toggle, whichswings the rear ends of the two reclining mast sections upward. ,As the toggle is pulled upward in this manner, the

, toggle joint moves closer to the foot of the mast sothatthe-rear short bracei34 pulls downward on the end" or, the jipper section of themes;

4 and thereby swings the free end of the upper section upward away from the lower section to unfold the mast, as shown in the broken linepositions of the mast in Fig. 3. This continues until the upper section is in line with the lower section and the rear short brace preferably is in alignment with the long, brace of the toggle, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.- This alignment of braces 28 and 34, plus the tension on cables 43, will hold the mast upright until the cable tension is relieved sufiiciently to allow the toggle joint to be pulled rearward slightly by means of a line 48 connected to it. Then, as the cables are reeled off the winches, the mast will swing backward.

'At the same time, the upper section will swin down toward the lower section, this movement being controlled by the rear short brace 34. After the folded mast comes to rest on pedestal 2|, further slackening of the cables will permit gin poles I3 to swing forward by-gravity and thus lower their sheaves IE to a level no higher than the rest of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1.

' When the mast is .about to be erected, jacks 3' are lowered to take part of the weight of the front end of the trailer and. to permit the truck to be driven away from it. Also, outrigging arms 50, hinged to front posts 8 of framework 1 and to a cross member 5| on which the posts rest, are swung down from their raised position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. In the latter position the free ends of the arms engage thev ground and help to take the weight of the mast structure and also to steady it.

,Whenthe mast is erect, braces 28, 3! and 34 function as a brace to hold the mast upright. Because of this, the mast can be made thinner than otherwise, and its overall thickness or height in folded position is reduced accordingly. Also, this bracing system makes unnecessary the use of guy wires which generally have to be secured to portable masts at mid height.

stantially midway between its ends so that the folded mast will be as short as possible.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes', we have explained the principle of' our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim? 1. A folding mast structure comprising a support an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of themast being hinged at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support,

a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower section of the mast near its upperend,

manually controlled means connected with the upper part of said long brace and with said between the long brace and the mastfor exerting. downward tension on the-upper. partgoflx.

the" lon brace, and: a third brace'behind'said. short brace pivotally connected with the toggle andithe upper section of themastbelow the level at whichthe two sections of the mast. are hinged. together, whereby when the mast is swung rear-v ward as saidtension is .released, said third brace will control tilting of. the, upper section. of the mast forward and downward to horizontal posi, tion while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down. onto said: support.

2. A folding, mast. structure comprising. a. support, an upright mast pivotally connected-at. itslower end to the support; the central part of. the mast being hinged at itsfront. side to form. upper and lower sections adapted to fold .upon. themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said. support, a. toggle formed from a long brace anda short. brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower section of, the mast near its upper end, a sheave connected with said support between the long brace and the mast, a cable extending over the sheave, means connecting the cable with the upper part of the long brace, means on said support for exertin tension on the cable to pull it downward, and a third brace behind said'short brace pivotally connected with the toggle and the upper section of the mast below the levelat which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said tension is released, said thirdbrace will controll tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward to horizontal-position while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support.

3. A folding mast structure comprising a, support, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to: the support, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side to form upper andlower sections adapted to-fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivotin the short brace tothe lower section of the mast near its upper end, a pair of sheaves disposed between the lower part of the. mast and said long brace on opposite sides of the mast, a pair of gin poles supporting the sheaves and-pivoted to opposite sides of the support below them, cables extending over the sheaves, means connecting the cables with the upper part of the long brace, rotatable means on said support for reeling in the cables to pull downwardon them, and a third brace behind said short brace pivotally connected with said toggle and the upper section of the mast below the level atwhich the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said cables are paid out, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward horizontal posi-' tion while the cables and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support, said gin poles being adapted to swing downward when the tension on said cables is released.

4. A folding mast structure comprising a support, an upright mast-pivotally connectedat: its lower end to the support, the central part: f a the mast being hingedat its-froht side ro-form upper. and-lower. sections adapted; to. fold upon.

themselves in substantially...horizontal. position with the lowersection resting. on said support,

a' toggle formed: from. a. long. brace. and. a short brace hinged together, means pivoting. the. long. brace to said support. behind thelower end of.

the mast, means pivoting the. short brace to the.

lower section of the mast near itsupper end, a. sheave suspended from the upperpart. of. said.-

, long brace between it and the mast, a sheave connected with said support behind thelowerend. of the. mast. and below. said, suspended sheave, a.

cable connecting said sheaves, means on said. support for, exerting tension onthe cabletoho-ld. th'e'upper sheavedownnear the lowerone, and

a. third brace behind. saidshort brace pivotallyi.

connected with. thetoggle and the upper. section of .the mast below the. level at which thetwo. sections of the mast.archingedtogether, where-.-

.by. when the mast is swung rearward as said cable. is, paid out, said third brace will control tilting...

of. theupper section of the mastforwardand downward toward horizontal position while the. cable and toggle control swinging of. thelower... section down onto said support.

15.. A folding mast. structure comprising a support, an uprightflmast. pivotallyIconnectedeat. its "lower end to the supportthe central. partof.

the mast being hinged at. its-.frontside to form, upper. and lower. sections adapted; to fold upon...

themselves. in substantially. horizontal position.

with the lower section restingon saidsupport, a.v toggle formed from a long brace and ashortlbrace,

hinged. together, means pivoting the long brace to said supportbehind the lower end of themast,

means pivoting the. short. brace to the lowersecy tion of the 'mastnear its upper end, a .pairof.. links pivotally suspended .from' the upper .part .of said longbrace between it and the. mast on op-.

posite sidespf the latter, a sheave. carried bythe lower endof each link, a pair of sheaves.con-.

nected with said support behindthe lower end. of the mast and below said, link. sheaves, cables.

thetoggle and the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung. rearward as said cables are paid out, saidthird brace will control tiltingof the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward "horizontal position while the cables and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support.

'6.- A- folding-mast'structure comprising a sup port, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of the mast being hi nged at its front side to form upper and-lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said supporta toggle formed from a long brace and a short bracehinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of-the mast,

the short brace straddling the mast and having its..upper end pivotally connected to the front of the lower section of-the mast near the upper J .end of that section, manually controlled means connected-with the upper part ofsaid long brace and with 's'aid support between the long brace and the mast fo'r (exerting downward-tension on the"; upper part-of. the long brace,- anda third race wbenmd said short bracpivotally connected 'with the toggle and theupper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said tension is released, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward to horizontal position while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section .down onto said support. r a 7. A folding mast-structure comprising a support, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of the mast being hinged. at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower section of the'mast near its upper end, manually controlled means connected with the upper part of said long brace and with said support between the long brace and the mast for exerting downward tension on the upper part of the long brace, and a third brace behind said short brace and substantially in line with the long brace, the third brace being pivotally connected with the toggle joint and the rear side of the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mastis swung rearward as said tension is released, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward horizontal position while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support. 8. A folding mast structure comprising a support, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon them-' selves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower section of the mast near its upper end, manually controlled means connected with the upper part of said long brace and with said support between the long brace and the mast for exerting downward tension on the upper part of the long brace, and a third bracebehind said short brace pivotally connected with the toggle and the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearwardas said tension is released, said third brace will con- 7 trol tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward to horizontal position while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support and the adjoining ends ofthe three braces being lo: cated behind the lower side of the lowersection of the mast when the mast is folded on said support. .7 v 9. A folding mast structure, comprising a sup-, port, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side toform upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon them-; selves in substantially horizontal position, with; t e lo e section r tin o s supno tlato gle. ,1-

hinged together, means pivoting the long brace.

to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower section of the mast near its upper end, manually controlled means connected with the upper part of said long brace and with said support between the long brace and the mast for exerting downward tension on the upper part of the long brace, and a third brace behind said short brace pivotally connected with the toggle and the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward .as

said tension is released, said third brace will con-,-

trol tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward to horizontal position while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support, and the adjoining ends of the three braces being located behind the lower side of the lower section of the mast when the mast is folded on said sup,- port with said short brace extending forward and upward above the long brace and with said third brace extending rearward and upward to said upper section of the mast.

10. A folding mast structure comprising a support, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lowersection resting on said support, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said support behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower section of the mast near its upper end, a pair of sheavesisuspended from the upper part of said long brace between it and the mast on opposite sides of the latter, a pair of sheaves below said suspended sheaves, supporting members for the lower pair of sheaves connected with said support and arranged to support those sheaves above the mast when it is folded on the support, cables connecting the upper and lower sheaves, rotatable means on said support for reeling in the cables to pull the upper sheaves downward, and a third brace behind said short brace pivotally connected with the toggle and the rear side of the upper section of the mast below the level at 1 which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said cables are paid out, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward horizontal position while the cables and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support. 7

11. A folding mast structure comprising a support, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to the support, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace tosaid support behind the lower endof the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the lower, section of the mast near its upper end, a

pair of sheaves suspended from the upper part opposite sides of the latter, a pair of sheaves 7 below saidsuspended sheaves, a pair of gin poles, fgrmedlfromna lpnsobraceiandashqrt tracers,l upnq tineth ,l werlsbea esand girqt dvtq ml posite sides of the support below them, cables connecting the upper and lower sheaves, rotatable means on said support for reeling in the cables to pull the upper sheaves downward, and a third brace behind said short brace pivotally connected with the toggle and the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said cables are paid out, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward horizontal position while the cables and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said support, said gin poles being adapted to swing downward when the tension on said cables is released.

12. Portable oil well drilling apparatus comprising a wheeled vehicle, a mast-supporting structure mounted on one end of the vehicle, drawworks mounted on the vehicle behind said structure, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to said structure, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section extending back across said drawworks, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said structure behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the upper part of the lower section of the mast, manually controlled means connected with the upper part of said long brace and with said structure between the long brace and the mast for exerting downward tension on the upper part of the long brace, and a third brace behind said short brace pivotally connected with the toggle and the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said tension is released, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward horizontal position while said tension means and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said vehicle.

13. Portable oil well drilling apparatus comprising a wheeled vehicle, a mast-supporting structure mounted on one end of the vehicle, drawworks mounted on the vehicle behind said structure, an upright mast pivotally connected at its lower end to said structure, the central part of the mast being hinged at its front side to form upper and lower sections adapted to fold upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section extending back across said drawworks, a toggle formed from a long brace and a short brace hinged together, means pivoting the long brace to said structure behind the lower end of the mast, means pivoting the short brace to the upper part of the lower section of the mast, a pair of links pivotally suspended from the upper part of said long brace between it and the mast on opposite sides of the latter, a sheave carried by the lower end of each link, a pair of sheaves below said link sheaves, a pair of gin poles pivoted to opposite sides of said structure below the lower end of said long brace and inclined forward and upward to support the lower pair of sheaves, cables connecting the upper sheaves with the lower sheaves, rotatable means in said structure for reeling in the cables to pull the upper sheaves downward, and a third brace behind said short brace pivotally connected with the toggle joint and the upper section of the mast below the level at which the two sections of the mast are hinged together, whereby when the mast is swung rearward as said cables are paid out, said third brace will control tilting of the upper section of the mast forward and downward toward horizontal position while the cables and toggle control swinging of the lower section down onto said vehicle, and said gin poles being adapted to swing downward by gravity when the tension on said cables is released.

HOMER J. WOOLSLAYER.

CECIL JENKINS.

CHARLES D. IDDINGS.

No references cited. 

